Apparatus fob electrically register



Oct. 29, 1940. c. F. THOMPSON APPARATUS FOR ELECTRICALLY REGISTERING VOTES Filed lay 4; 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 a m M w r. v W m 6 a. w/ m M 6 w n m o m o 8 v l u c m P JNVEN TOR. s lm/myw w, 5

L /gaxlep 65 IIEnlA ATITORNEY C. F. THOMPSON Oct. 29, 1940.

APPARATUS FOR ELECTRICALLY REGISTERING VOTES Filed lay 4, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 E G C B A H W W M 0 W 5% 3 0 M g A & M w R a a m G A m 5 W m B l M E a E. f. I

' Oct. 29, 1940. c. F. THOMPSON 2,219,347

APPARATUS FOR ELECTRIGALLY REGISTERING VOTES Filed lay 4, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 firm/aga e 3531 C I I mmenema on. 29, 1944; 2,219,347

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR ELECTRICALLY REGISTER- I ENG VOTES Charles E Thompson, Dumbarton, Va.

, Application May 4, 1936, Serial No. 77,839

10 Claims. (Cl. 235-52) My invention relates to electrical roll-call or membership into a'predetermined number of voting systems, such as are used by legislative small divisions for high speed registering and and other deliberative bodies. Systems of this recording purposes; nature have heretofore been too expensive for To provide a new type of registering mecha- 5 general adoption, and have been too slow in opnism capable of simultaneously storing the votes 5 eration, and inapplicable in certain instances, in each division, then moving the registering and have failed to provide various desirable funcmechanism proper forward one step for each ditions. My invention is designed to overcome vision of votes instead of one step forward for these deficiencies, and to provide voting bodies each single vote, all of which greatly multiplies with equipment of universal application, and of registering speed; 10 the greatest simplicity and reliability at'low sales To provide said new type of registering mechaand operating costs, capable of performing all denism with means for displaying the totals on a sirable functions, and operating at far faster screen in view of the speaker, or in view of all speed than prior systems in the art. members of the assembly, if preferred.

The individual units of mechanism employed to To provide said collector and new type of regis- 15 form this system, are disclosed in detail in several tering mechanism with means for continuous copending applications as follows:v Serial No. operation,so as to repeatedly register the totals,on 77,039, filed April 29, 1936, Electrical roll call or a screen or otherwise until enough votes havebeen voting apparatus; Serial No. 83,334, filed June 3, registered for a quorum or bill passage, before 1936, Selector mechanism for electrical roll call or the system is locked for recording purposes. To 20 voting apparatus, now Patent 2,168,373, granted provide said collector and new type of registering August 8, 1939; Serial No. 87,273, filed June 25, mechanism with means for displaying one total 1936, Recorder mechanism for electrical roll call to the speaker 01' me e s, W i e Stori e or voting apparatus; Serial No. 93,684, filed July votes in the several divisions in preparation for 31, 1936, Totalizing mechanism for voting appathe next total, thereby further increasing the 5 ratus. This application is designed to cover the operating speed of this mechanism; relationship and electrical connections between To provide a e yp of recording mechanism, the various devices, and the methods of controlso small, simple and inexpensive, and controlled ling them when they are assembled and wired to by so few wires, t a plurality of intercha form a complete roll-call or voting system. able recorders might be used for each installation, 30

Among the objects of my invention, shown in thus permitting party leaders and press reprethis and co-related applications, are: sentatives to secure copies of the record without To provide a new type of voting unit for the tyin up t whole s m y While a s n l remembers use in casting their votes, designed to corder was making duplicate copies, and also fit standard switch boxes and switch plates, and overcoming the possibility of failure of the single 35 to be composed of the fewest possible parts, and recorder tying up the whole assembly While being those parts of stamped or die cast construction. repaired;

To completely abandon the principle used by T p v i n w ype o re r in m haearlier inventors of placing all votes in consecunism with means to simultaneousll record a ote tive order by means of a commutator, and regisfrom each collector division, instead of recording 40 tering and recording them consecutively, and to but one vote at a time, thus greatly multiplying provide a new principle in vote registering and Op n SD drecording known to me as the division and storage To provide for the addition of suitable switchprinciple, whereby registering and recording boards, indicator boards, page boards, etc., to the speeds several times greater than heretofore has above devices, and for the proper relationship 45 been thought possible, are obtained. and electrical circuits between them, and to pro- To completely separate the commutator device vide for suitable pushbuttons, switches, relays, from the recording mechanism, as earlier invenand other control means for securing the desired tors have combined them, so the recording mechoperation of the entire assembled electrical rollanism can be omitted in foreign installations call or voting system. 50 where it-would seldom be required, and in certain The complete system of my invention has been domestic installations, or wherever permanent illustrated in Figs. 1A, 1B and 10, which, when voting records were not required, and to provide considered together, show the circuit arrangea new form of commutator device, hereinafter ment diagrammaticallyand the associated mecha- 51} known as the collector, which will divide the total nism schematically. Fig. 1A shows the arrange- 55 ment of voting units, switchboard, page call board and indicator board. Fig. 1B shows the arrangement of control apparatus and collector. Fig. shows the arrangement of recorder and vote registering mechanism. Fig. 2 shows a side view of the counting mechanism, and Fig. 3 illustrates the general plan or lay-out of the system.

This application covers what I believe to be a valuable improvement in the art, in displaying to the speaker, and if desired to the members, continuous registration while the members are voting, so that it is known at once when suiiicient votes have been registered to form a quorum or pass a bill; and this application covers what I I purpose, which in turn operates a recording mechanism capable of recording one vote from each division simultaneously, and which also operates a high speed register known as the votometer, in which the votes in all collector divisions are simultaneously stored and the total displaying mechanism advanced forward one step for each division, rather than one step forward for each vote cast.

To show the value of this arrangement let us consider for example a SOD-member installation, such as would probably be required for the Federal houseof representatives. Assuming that a step by step registering mechanism could operate 1 at the rate of ten counts per second, it is apparent that with the old style of commutator heretofore used, in which all like votes are placed in one continuous sequence and counted one by one, fifty seconds would be required to count five hundred votes, and perhaps another five seconds would be required for the totalsto be announced or displayed and comprehended by the membership. By abandoning the old commutator principle, and adopting the novel principle of division and storage described herein, the 500-member installation would be supplied with a collector dividing the membership into, for instance, ten divisions of fifty members each, and the votometer supplied would be provided with ten storage divisions or storage units, so that all ten storage units would store their fifty votes, in simultaneous operation, at the rate of ten votes a second which means the 500 votes would be stored in five seconds. The total-displaying mechanism of the votometer would thereupon be moved forward consecutively by each storage unit, so that each division of votes would be counted by one movementk ."If each forward movement of the totaldisplaying mechanism, .when actuated by a storage unit, consumed one half a second, the ten forward movements would consume five seconds, so a total of ten seconds would be required to display the BOO-vote total. In the Federal house, and in other large bodies, continuous registration would very likely he demanded, so that no unnecessary loss of time would be consumed in securing a quorum, or securing suflicient votes for bill passage, and with continuous registration the advantages of the system shown in the present application are even {more pronounced. The votometer, built for operation on the division and storage principle, is so constructed that its votedisplaying mechanism can be showing one total, while its vote-storage mechanism is storing another total. If the votometer displayed its totals on a screen, as it would do in one of its principalonds and dark for five seconds, lighted for five seconds and dark for five seconds, etc., during continuous registration. The five seconds for displaying the totals would be just about sulficient time for a large membership to see and digest them, and the members would thereupon have to wait but five seconds for a new total to be displayed. Displaying a new SOD-member total after a five second wait, would seem almost miraculous, when compared with the 50 seconds or more required by the old commutator principle of counting, and closer analysis shows the discrepancy between the old and new principles to be even more pronounced than heretofore outlined. 1st, considerably less than an even half of second is required for each votometer storage unit to advance the total displaying mechanism, so the period of screen darkness between totals would probably not be more than three or four seconds. 2nd, the old commutator and counter principle would not permit the display of one total while storing or counting another total, nor the resetting of one total while counting or storing another, so resetting and displaying time periods would have to be added to the fifty seconds required for the straight counting of five hundred votes at ten votes a second. 3rd, if ten votes a second is the fastest practicable speed for operating the votometer storage units, whose moving parts consist principally of small light wheels operating in air and moving or driving nothing at all during the vote-storing operation, then ten votes a second could not be achieved by old style units-tens-and-hundreds-wheels types of counters, nor could that speed be achieved'by any simple form of screen-display counter in which a film or disc was driven forward by a ratchet one step or count for each vote cast. The direct driven film or disc would have far more inertia and far less speed than the unincumbered wheel of each votometer storage unit.

It appears that members would have to wait a minute or longer for successive totals under the old commutator principle, as against three to five seconds under the new division and storage principle.

The principle of dividing the membership into several divisions for high speed recording and registration, also permits use of 'a very simple and fast recording mechanism. If, in a SOD-member assembly, the record card were divided into ten columns, and could be fed through a recording machine perforating or otherwise marking said ten columns simultaneously, the recording would be completed in a tenth of the time required by the old method of commutation. Heretofo're it has never been possible to do this because no vote-countingmechanism had ever been perfected that would take care of several divisions of votes simultaneously, and both counter and recorder operated from the same commutator. With collector and votometer especially designed to operate on the division principle, the recorder reduced to a single line of solenoids under which 7 a paper card is fed, and that all of the hundreds of perforating pins, and traveling carriages, and worms and clutches, etc., heretofore used for vote recorders are automatically eliminated.

Separation of the commutator, or collector, from the recorder, has several advantages. 1st,

it permits installations without recorders where permanent records are not required. 2nd, it removes hundreds of wires from the recorder, relidering the recorder a simple plug-in mechanism.

3rd. it permits use of a rotary'type of'collector' ideally suited to the needs of continuous registration and votometer operation. 4th, it allows use of switch blades that wipe wide substantial contactors to pick up the current, which are far more reliable than the miniature contactors that would necessarily have to be used if the commutator were part of the recorder.

While this application shows a single collector controlling both votometer and recorder, it is just as feasible and in some cases it would be quite desirable to use two collectors, one for controlling the votometer, and one for controlling the recorder. In this application a multiple contact switch is automaticallyoperated to break the recording machine circuits during continuous registration, and at such other times when the votometer alone is operated. With individual collectors this switch would not be required, differ? ing speeds could be applied to recorder and votometer operation, and the number of columns on the record card would not have to correspond to the number of storage units on the votometer. However for the purposes of this application a single collector is sufiicient to disclose all of the operating principles, but it should be remembered that individual collectors could be used.

To the novel recording and registering mechanism above referred to, I have added as the voting means, an entirely new type of voting unit.

- assemblies.

ently for different uses and locations.

This new voting unit possesses the outstanding advantage of operating on open circuit, and therefore not able to heat itself or provide a fire risk in the desk and chamber in which it is used. For the first time a single magnet is used to control all the functions of the voting device, and aside from the magnet plunger, the voting unit contains no moving parts except the switch blade This voting unit is designed for economical commercial production, and to fit standard switch plates and switch boxes. It may be fitted with a lock and key type of cover if .desired.

An indicator board, a switchboard, and a recognition board or page call board or both, are connected with the voting unit, collector, recorder and votometer, so as to form a complete system, and all of these devices are controlled by a suitable system of switches and relays preferably operated by the speaker and clerk.

The votometer may register its totals differ- If the totals were required by the speaker alone, a numbered, translucent and illuminated dial or drum could be used. For displaying the totals to the membership a numbered disc or film or equivalent would be used between suitable condensing and projecting lenses. For the clerks use the votometer may be arranged to print the totals on the record card.

For the purpose of explaining my system in the simplest manner I shall describe a smaller system than one of five hundred member capacity. Mechanical details of the individual units may be found in the correlated applications above referred to. The individual units can be shown only in simplified form in this application, where they are combined and wired together. This application therefore describes a system composed of one hundred and two voting units, such as shown at l, 2 and 3. A collector, such as shown at 6, contains three vote controlling divisions, A, B and C, and each said collector division controls one third of the voting units. Impulses picked up by collector division A operate first column recording magnets a of recorder l, and first storing unit magnets no of votonieter 8. Impulses from collector division B operat second column recording magnets b of recorder I, and second storing unit magnets bb of votometer 8. Impulses from collector division C operate third column recorder magnets c of rec-order l, and third storing unit magnets cc of votometer 8. The collector 6 contains various other commutator sections. E controls balanceof votometer magnets, which cause the total displaying mechanism to be advanced forward and locked at appropriate times. F controls, in part at least, operation of the projection lamps of the votometer. G controls driving motor for the collector itself. H controls principally, the paper feed mechanism of the recorder l.

K represents the switch for disconnecting the recorder 7 for continuous registration and other purposes. L represents what is known as the votometer switch, for timing certain operations of that device. M is a relay and dashpot combination designed to allow the votometer to display its totals for a certain fixed length of time after the balance of the equipment has been reset or restored to. neutral. N is a pushbutton switch permitting a total to be secured with all voting units locked and recorder disconnected. O is a switch which can be closed and thereby cause all voting units to be reset automatically by the collector. J is a gong designed to be rung when the system is turned on for voting. R is a reset switch capable of resetting all voting units. P is the customary page board, IB the indicator board and SB the switchboard. The page board P is assumed to contain 102 signals; the indicator board IB is assumed to contain 34 names or positions in each column or 102 in all; and each of the two panels or sections of the switchboard SB is assumed to contain 102 jacks. Divisions A, B and C of collector 6 are each assumed to contain 34 individual voting contactors for each class of votes; and section H of collector 6 is assumed to contain at least 34 individual paper feed contactors and preferably several more so as to feed the card entirely out of the recorder I, in addition to the several control contactors found in section H. Speakers switch 4 controls the voting of the members. Clerks switch 5 controls the record making and resetting.

Speakers switch 4 is held normally in neutral position illustrated, by cam 38 and spring 31, and can be moved to either right or left. It will stay in either operated position by means of cam 36 and spring 31 until manually restored to neutral by the speaker. Switch blade 38 of speaker's switch 4 is connected to negative battery by conductor 39, and in its neutral position makes contact with contactor 40. Contactor 4D is connected through conductor 4!, contactor 42 of collector division H, wipers 43 and 44, contactor 45 and conductor 46 to switch blade 41 of clerks switch 5, which means that switch 5 can be electricallyoperative only when speakers switch 4 and collector 6 are in their neutral positions. When speaker's switch 4 is moved to either right or left a path for the flow of current is established from negative battery through switch blade 38, contactor 48 or 49, and conductor 50, to the operating magnets 3| of all voting units such as I, 2

and 3, permitting these voting units to become operative for voting purposes. Switch blade 38, when contacting contactors 48 or 49, will likewise contact contactors 5| or 52, thereby completing a circuit from positive battery through conductor 53 and magnet 54 of votometer switch L, and conductor 55, to negative battery.

Closing of votometer switch L by operation of solenoid 54 against action of spring 54a, sends positive current from conductor 53, through switch blade 56 and contactor 51, to conductor 58. The single stroke gong J is connected to positive battery by conductor 58, and to negative battery by conductor 59, and therefore rings. The'positive battery on conductor 58 is also supplied to time delay relay M, which cannot operate however until a later operation takes place. The positive battery on conductor 58 is connected with contactor 68 of collector section F, and contactor 6| of collector section E. Positive battery from contactor 6| passes through wipers 62 and 63, and contactor 64, and conductor 65, to all locking magnets d of votometer 8; and positive battery from contactor 60 passes through wipers 66 and 61, and conductor 68 to all projection lamps e of votometer 8. Both locking magnets 01 and projection lamps e of votometer 8 are connected with negative battery through conductor 69, and therefore operate when the gong J strikes or rings, and with the votometer registering zero.

Movement of the handle of speakers switch 4 to left causes all contact wipers of collector 6 to rotate continuously, in an anti-clockwise direction, which in turn causes votometer 8 to register a new total every revolution. This circuit is established when switch blade 38 makes contact with contactor I0, permitting positive battery to flow through collector driving motor I I, and conductor I2, contactor I8, switch blade 38 and to negative conductor 39. When speaker moves switch 4 to neutral, collector motor II is still kept running by current from positive battery,

through motor II, conductors I2 and I3, contactor I4, wipers 15 and I6, contactor TI, and conductor I8 to negative 39. All contact wipers in the collector 6 are mounted on a single shaft rotated by motor II. Motor II continues to operate until wiper I6 leaves contactor II, whereupon all wipers will be in the neutral position illustrated. Locked total switch N may also be used to start the collector motor II running for one revolution of the wipers. This switch is electrically operative onlyWhen speakers switch 4 is in the neutral position'and all voting units such as I, 2 and 3 locked; and this switch is operative also only when motor II is stopped and all contact wipers are in their neutral position, with wiper I6 contacting contactor I9. If the speaker wishes to have the votometer indicate by one collector revolution the number of votes he has locked in the system, closing of switch N will permit motor II to start by current passing through said motor, conductors I2 and 13, contactor I4, wipers I5 and I6, contactor I9, conductors 88, 8| and 82, contactor 48, and switch blade 38, to negative conductor 39. Motor II will continue to run for the duration of that collector revolution, by current through conductors I2 and I3, contactor 'l4, wipers I5 and I6, contactor II, conductor I8, to negative 39.

The voting units are indicated generally by reference charactersl, 2 and 3, which also represent the desk numbers where these voting units are located. Refering to the voting unit I, which is located at desk number 1 it will beseen that a switch is provided having a pivoted arm I8 adapted to be angularly shifted through an angle of approximately degrees on each side of a vertical axis passing through the journal for the switch on center II. There are. two movable portions in the switch, one of which is shiftable about a journal indicated at H, and the other of which is shiftable about a journal indicated at I2. switch blades indicated at I3, I4 and I5 movable over contact members shown at I6, II, I8, I9, 28

the switch blades pivoted about journal I2, at 22,

23 and 24, movable in coaction with contact members 25,.26, 21, 28, 29 and 30. The locked or unlocked condition of switch blades 22, 23 and 24 is controlled by solenoid 3|, operating reciprocating plunger member 32, adapted to be projected through or withdrawn from an aperture 33 in arm 34. The plunger 32 is operative to lock the group of switch blades indicated at 22, 23 and 24 in the not voting position as illustrated in the drawing, or in the voting position for the vote nay, or in the voting position for the vote aye, respectively, by projection of plunger 32 through aperture 33 in arm 34, or by abutment of plunger 32 with the opposite sides of arm 34 when plunger 32 is projected into the path of arm 34.

- When arm 34 and blades 22, 23 and 24 are locked in the normal or not voting position illustrated at I, as they will be between votes, when the speakers switch 4 is in the neutral position illustrated, the voting unit may be used for calling a page or operating almost any kind of signaling device. The switch assembly journaled at II is connected by springs (not shown) with the switch assembly journaled at I2, and these springshave two tendencies: first, to keep the switch blades in axial alignment or bring them back to alignment if separated, and second, to restore either or both assemblies to the neutral position illustrated.

Between votes therefore, when the speaker's switch 4 is in the neutral position, and each voting The arm l8 controls the movement'of three unit assembly pivoted about journal I2is locked by through contactor 25, switch blades 22 and 24," .contactors 29 and I9 or 2|, switch blades I4 and I5, to contactor II or I8, and over conductor 84 through page call signal PI of page board P and common return wire 85 to negative battery feeder 86. The handle ID with its switch blades I3, I4 and IE will return to neutral by spring action when pressure is removed therefrom, releasing page call signal Pl. If desired, one of the contactors II or l8 can be used alone to operate page call signal Pl and the other contactor II or I 8 can be used to operate a. signal on another signal board, similar electrically to page board P but preferably smaller, and installed at the speakers'desk, so any member seeking recogni-,- tion by the speaker, may signal for it electrically. Such a board would be called a recognition board,

and might be if desired, incorporated as part of a miniature indicator board on the speakers desk. Or contactor I I or I8 may be used to ring a bell at the page call board if the page is slow in .answering page signal PI or it may be used for calling a stenographer, or for any other desired p p When thespeaker wishes to take a vote and throws his switch handle 4 to right or left, thereby connecting negative battery from conductor 39, through switch blade 38, contactors 48 or 49,

. and conductor 50, to all voting unit solenoids, 3I,

the voting unit I and all other voting units .connected with the system, become operative as such, and cannot operate page signals PI, P2, etc., because the current thereto is broken as soon as it starts to flow.

With speakers switch 4 on one side or the. other closing circuit to negative conductor 5Il-and thus permitting voting, movement of handle I!) to left causes battery current from positive conductor 83 to pass through contactor 25, switch blades 22, 23 and 24, contactors 29, 2I, I9, switch blades I3, I4 and I5,- and contactor I6, to magnet 3I and negative conductor 50, energizing magnet 3I, withdrawing plunger member 32 from aperture 33 of arm 34. With handle I pushed to left, spring action causes the assembly pivoted at journal I2 to follow the movement of handle III, as soon as plunger member 32 is withdrawn from aperture 33. And since switch blade I is in contact with contactor I9, the circuit through magnet 3| is opened as soon as switch blade 24 leaves contactor 29. As the assembly continues to swing to left on journal I2, switch blade 23 establishes contact with contactor 26; sending current over conductor 81, through switchboard plug and jack DI, switchboard cord 88, switchboard plug and jack RI, to conductors 89 and 93. Conductor 89 thereby supplies current to the aye lamp of indicator board position I. B. I, which is connected to negative battery by common wire BI; and conductor 90 supplies current to contactor 92 of division A of collector 3. This aye circuit closed at contactor 23 is held closed by the plunger member 32, actuated by spring 3Ia, abutting one side of arm 34. This aye circuit held closed at contactor 25 may be released at any time before speakers switch 4 is restored to neutral, by movement of handle III to its neutral position, establishing circuit from positive conductor 83, through contactor 25, switch-blades 22, 23 and 24, contactors 28 and 2|], switch blades I3, I4 and I5, and contactor I6, to magnet 3i and negative conductor '50, withdrawing plunger member 32 from side of arm 34, permitting springs to restore the opposite assembly to neutral position. Movement of handle ID to right causes magnet 3I to operate by current through contactors 29 and 2|, switch blades I3, I4 and I5, and contactor I3, releasing cradle arm 34, breaking magnet circuit at contactor 29, and establishing contact between switch blade 23 and contactor 21, which remains closed by-action of plunger member 32 abutting opposite side of arm 34. Current thereupon flows from contactor 21, through conductor 93, plug and jack DI, switch-board cord 88, plug and jack RI, to conductors 94 and 95. Conductor 94 sends current through nay lamp of indicator board position I. B. I to negative 9|; and-conductor 95 sends current to contactor 93 of division A of collector 6. This nay vote may also be released by moving handle I0 to neutral, provided speakers switch 4 is in one of the voting positions. Of course when speakers switch 4 is in C of collector B.

the neutral position no vote can be registered from the voting units I, 2 and 3, because the circult to solenoids 3I thereof is broken; nor can any vote be released from voting units I, 2 and 3 when speaker's switch 4 is in the neutral position, for the same reason.

If a member does not vote, current from positive conductor 83, through contactor 25, switch blades 22, 23 and 24, and contactors 29 and 2I,

,will be fed over conductor 31, through-plug and jack DI, switch-board cord 88, plug and jack RI, and conductor 98, to contactor 99 of division A of collector 6.

The switch-board SB is used for the purpose of permitting the members to sit where they'wi'sh and yet be recorded alphabetically. One panel thereof contains jacks connected with the voting units on all desks, and the other panel thereof contains jacks connected with all recording equipment. Of the-jacks on the recording-equipment side of switch-board, jacks RI to R34 (not shown) are connected to the voting contactors in division A of collector G; jacks R35 to R68 (not shown) are connected to the voting contactors in division B of collector 6; and jacks R69 to RI02 (not shown) are connected to the voting contactors in division C of collector 6. In this application voting unit jacks DI, D2 and D3 are shown connected by suitable switchboard cords such as 88, to recording jacks RI, R35 and R69 respectively, so that voting unit I becomes connected with the first voting contactors in division A of collector 6; so that voting unit 2 becomes connected with the first voting contactors in division B of collector 6; and so that voting unit 3 becomes connected with the first voting contactors in division This means also, in the system illustrated, votes from voting units I, 2 and 3,

will be indicated at the top of each indicator board column, and recorded at the top of each record card column.

The recording mechanism illustrated generally at I is designed to simultaneously record three votes at a time, one from each of divisions A, B and C of collector 6. The recording may be done by perforating a hole, or embossing, printing or otherwise marking a character or symbol in a proper position to indicate each members vote on the record card. A- line of perforating or marking pins I04 to I I2, inclusively, each operated by a pair of solenoids II3 to I2I inclusively, and respectively, forms the basis for the recorder structure. Beneath this row of electrically operated perforating or marking pins, 2. record card is fed by sprocket or friction wheels, actuated by a step by step motion obtained from a ratchet wheel. The pawl that operates said ratchet wheel may be actuated directly by the feed magnets I22, but I prefer to operate the pawl by the spring which necessarily must be used to restore the solenoids I22 to their original or neutral position.

' Feeding the record card by spring action, permits feed solenoids I22 to operate at approximately the same time the other recorder solenoids I I3 to I2I inclusively, are operating; and also permits contact wipers 43 and 44 to have approximately the same position on the collector shaft as the other contact wipers on said shaft. I would preferably make contact wipers 43 and 44 adjustable as to their position on collector shaft with respect to other contact wipers thereon, so that they could be adjusted to feed the record card through the recorder at the highest practical operating speed, moving said record card between recording impulses of recording solenoids II3 to I2I inclusively. The electrical impulses used to feed the record card, are secured from the collector 6 contactors in section H, that are joined together by the bus wire I68, which is connected to positive battery. Sufficient contactors should be connected by buss wire I68 to feed the record card of the-clerk, in moving handle 5 to the right for the purpose of recording the vote.

If speaker's switch 4, and collector 6, are in their neutral positions, switch blade 41 of clerks switch 5 will be connected to negative battery through conductor 46. Movement of clerks handle 5 to right closes switch K by means of current flowing from positive conductor 53 through solenoid I25, conductor I26, contactor I21 and switch blade 41, to negative 46. When switch blade 41 contacts contactor I21, it will also contact contactor I28, permitting selector motor 1|- to start rotating for one collector revolution, by means of current passing from positive battery through said motor II, conductors 12 and 13, contactor 14, wipers 15 and 16, contactor 19 and conductor 80, to switch blade 41 and negative 46. Motor 1| will continue running until wiper 16 leaves contactor 11 as previously described; and when collector motor H is started from clerk's switch 5, it is seen that recorder I is operative.

Resetting of voting units I, 2 and 3, etc., and other equipment of the system, is manually controlled by the clerk in moving the handle of switch 5 to left. Said resetting may be automate ically controlled by collector 6 if switch '0 is closed. With switch 0 open, movement of clerks switch handle 5 to left causes recorder switch K to open, by positive current passing through-solenoid I29 thereof, conductor I30, and contactor I3I, to switch blade 41 and negative 46, which causes plunger member I 32 to be withdrawn from its position of locking switch bar I33 closed and allows the bar movement under spring action to open position, thereby breaking all circuits indicated at I23 to recorder '1, disconnecting recorder At the same time switch blade 41 contacts contactor I3I, it also contacts contactor I34. Switch blade 41, by connecting contactor I34 to negative 46, causes all voting units such as I, 2 and 3, etc.,

to be reset, by battery current from conductor 53 flowing through solenoid I35, and conductor I36, to contactor I34, which momentarily actuof each plunger 32 from abutment with one side of arm 34 in the voting units from'which votes will have ample time to record the totals.

had been registered. If some voting units had been in the not voting position when switch R is closed, the resetting impulse would not have 1, to the spring 231.

When clerks handle 5 is moved to left, another action taking place is that the time delay relay M is started operating, by circuit from positive conductor 53, through switch blade 56 and contactor 51 (which were closed when speaker started the .vote by movement of his switch 4 to either side),

conductors 58, I43 and I44, relay operating coil I45, contactor I34, switch blade 41, to negative 46; whereupon armature I46 contacts contactor I41, permitting current on conductor I43 to pass through the dash-pot solenoid I48, relay holding coil I49, contactor I41, armature I46, conductor 82, and contactor 40 of speakers switch 4,'and switch blade 38 to negative 39.

Clerks switch 5, it will be recalled, is electrically operative only when speakers switch 4 is in its neutral position. Closing of armatureI46 with contactor I41 locks closed the relay M and starts the dashpot plunger I50.in motion. Dashpot contactors |5| and I52are designed to control solenoid I53 of votometer switch Ii. When dashpot contactors I5I and 52 are closed, current passes through -them from conductor I43, and

' through solenoid I53 to negative battery, with-, drawing plunger I54 from its position of locking switch arm I 55closed. Solenoid I53 however does not operate until dashpot plunger I50 has reached the end of its stroke. The purpose of this time delay is to allow the votometer switch L to remain closed. and consequently to allow all projection lamps e of votometer 8 to remain burning and all locking magnets d of votometer 6 to remain energized, for a fixed period-of time after the balance of the equipment has been reset, so that all members will have ampletime to see the totals if screen projection be usedjand so that the clerk All equipment except votometer locking magnets d and projection lamps e, isreset when dashpot plunger I50 starts to rise, but votometer locking magnets d and projection lamps e, are not released until dashpot plunger I50 completes its stroke.

However if the speaker starts a new vote before the dashpot plunger I 50 completes its stroke, the circuit from switch blade 36 to relay armature I46 is immediately broken at contactor 40 and the dashpot drops. If permitted to operate through its full stroke so that magnet I53 is energized, the breaking of contact between switch blade 56 and contactor 51 will arrest the flow of current over conductor I 43 and hence release armature I46 and dashpot plunger I50, and in addition will disconnect the sections E and F of the collector which are required to be kept energized during the new voting operation.

The resetting functions just described as being performed manually by the clerk moving handle 5 to left, can be likewise automatically performed v by the collector 6 if switch 0 is placed in the closed position. In this case magnet I35 of relay R will operate to reset voting units I, 2, 3, etc.,

commences to rotate.

by current from positive conductor 53 passing through it, and through conductor I56 to contactor I51 of section H of collector 6. After collector wipers 43 and 44 have passed all paper feeding contactors they bridge contactor I51 to contactor I58 so that the circuit through magnet I35 and conductor I56 is momentarily established through conductor I59, contactor I60, switch blade I6I, conductor I62, contactor I63, switch blade I64, to negative conductor I24, operating magnet units I, 2, 3, etc.

The dashpot relay M is at the same time operated by current from conductors I43 and I44 passing through winding I45, and conductors I36 and I56, and contactors I51 and I58, conductor -I59, contactor I60, switch blade I6I, conductor I62, contactor I63 and switch blade I64 to negative conductor I24, closing dashpot relay M.

An instant after relay M is closed, the switch K is automatically disconnected by current from positive battery flowing through solenoid I29, and conductor I65 to contactor I66, which is bridged momentarily to contactor I61, causing current to pass over conductor I59, through contactor I60, switch blade I6I, conductor I62, contactor I63, switch blade I64, to negative conductor I24, opening switch K and recorder 1.

The votometer 8 consists of three sections, 8a for registering the aye totals, 81) for registering the "not voting totals, and 80 for registering the nay" totals. The mechanism for storing the votes, and then moving the registering shaft forward is the same in 8a, 8b and'8c. 8a however is drawn'in somewhat greater detail than 81) or 80, and hence will be-used to explain mechanical stop arm I14, which revolves with the shaft I1I.

A portion of the shaft I1I adjacent to bearing I12 is threaded at I15, and a traveling nut I16 is engaged with these threads, and moves stop pin I11 out of the path of stop arm I14 when shaft I1I Steadying pin I18 is also attached to the nut I16 and moves through bearing I12 as stop pin I11 does, when shaft I1I rotates, but steadying pin I18 does not act as a stop. Spring I19 causes stop arm I14 to abut stop pin I11, whenshaft I1I is in its normal or zeroregistering position; which means spring I19 is wound up when shaft l1I is rotated for registering a total, Spring I19 is capable of permitting shaft I1I to rotate against its pressure for several revolutions, and spring I19 is then capable of driving shaft I1I back to its normal zero-registering position where stop arm I14 abuts stop pin I11. Stop pin I11 is withdrawn from the path of stop arm I14 by nut I16 during the first revolution of shaft HI; and stop pin I11 returns into the path of stop arm I14 only after spring I19 has driven shaft I1I back to a position within one revolution of its normal position. Thus shaft I1I can rotate several revolutions from its normal position, and then can be returned to that normal position by action of spring I19. Except for the small portion of shaft I1I that is shown threaded at I15, all the rest of the shaft I1I that lies between the bearing blocks I12 and I13, contains gear teeth in the nature of a pinion rod. The'magnet d is designed to center and lock shaft I1I in any desired position, by means of a lever I80, jornaled at I8I, and a gear tooth attached thereto at I82. Lever tooth I82 is normally disengaged from gear I35 momentarily and resetting voting teeth of shaft I1I, but is capable of being engaged with gear teeth of shaft I1 I, when lever I is pulled down by plunger I83 of solenoid (2.

Above the portion of shaft I1I that is equipped with gear teeth, and normally totally disengaged therefrom, are three storage units of identical mechanical construction. Each unit consists of a frame I84 journaled at I85 and carrying a solenoid ac, or bb or cc, adapted to actuate lever I86, which is pivoted at I98 to frame I84, and which is adapted to actuate pawl I81 in a reciprocative manner. A stud I88 is riveted to frame I84 and upon this stud is journaled a gear wheel I89 and ratchet wheel I90, both having the same number of teeth, and pinned together so as to be immovable with respect to each other. Ratchet wheel I90 contains a long tooth I9I which serves to arrest the motion of gear and ratchet wheel combination I89-I90 at the normal position of this combination. Spring I92 mounted on stud I88 causes long tooth I9I to be held against pawl I93, which is pivoted on frame I84. Thus spring I92 holds gear I89 in its normal position wherein long ratchet tooth I9I contacts pawl I93;' but when the solenoid ad, or bb or cc is consecutively energized by the collector 6, moving pawl I81 in a reciprocative manner, gear wheel I89 is advanced one tooth for each impulse so received. The gear and ratchet wheel combination I89-I 90 is held in each new position it assumes, by pawl Storage unit frame I84 is capable of being de-. pressed by plunger I94 of registering magnet I95,

until gear wheel I89 meshes with gear toothed portion of registering shaft I1I.

As frame I84 is being so depressed, and after the gear teeth are partly in mesh, pawls I81 and I93 strikeprojection I96, causing them to be lifted clear of all teeth on the ratchet wheel I90 except the long tooth I9I; whereupon spring I92 causes gear and ratchet wheel combination I89I90 to rotate back to its normal position, where long tooth I9I abuts pawl I93. I In moving back to its normal position storage gear I89 advances the registering shaft I1I. Shaft I1I is thus moved as many teeth forward as there were votes stored in the storage gear I89.

Under control of collector section E, locking magnet d is de-energized while storage gear I89 is advanc ng the shaft I1I, but is again energized before teeth on storage gear I 89 break mesh with teeth on shaft I1I. Thus shaft I1I is locked in position every time it moves forward. The solenoids which control the release of energy from the storage units to drive the shaft I1I forward, I95 of the first storage unit, I 91 of the second storage unit, and I99 of the third storage unit, are consecutively energized by section E of collector 6.

It will be noticed that total registering magnet I95 of 8a is in parallel with corresponding magnets of 8b and 80; total registering magnet I91 is in parallel with corresponding magnets of 8b and 8c; total registering magnet I 99 is in parallel with corresponding magnets of 8b and 8c; and that locking magnets d of 8a, 8b and 8c are also in parallel;

Contactor 6I of section E of collector 6 is supplied with positive battery over conductor 58, from switch blade 56 and contactor 51 of votometerswitch L. From contactor 6I this current is picked up by wiper 62 and conveyed to wiper 63, which is normally resting on contactor 64, and thereby causes all locking magnets d to be energized upon operation of speakers handle 4.

When the collector 6 is started, for the purpose of operating the .votometer 8, with or without recorder I being connected therewith as has been previously described, wiper 63 begins rotating in through open air after leaving contactor 64. This open space through which wiper 63 travels after leaving contactor 64 is responsible for the automatic releasing of votometer totals during continuous registration. Between votes votometer totals are released automatically by opening of switch L, but switch L does not open during continuous registration.

After leaving contactor 64 and traveling through the total release space just mentioned;

wiper 63 then makes successive contact with contactors 200, 20I, 202, 203, 204, 205 and 64. Wiper 63 is arranged to bridge these contacts as it contacts them, so that before one contact is broken the next contact is made. Circuit establishedat contactor 200 operates magnet d of 6a, 6b and 8c; centering and locking shaft I'll of 8a, corresponding shaft of 8b, and corresponding shaft of 8c,

in the zero registering position. Circuitestablished at contactor 20I operates solenoid I95 of 8a, corresponding solenoid of 8b, and corresponding solenoid of 80; causing shaft Ill of 8a, corresponding shaft of 8b, and corresponding shaft of. 80, to advance for the first registering-movement, wherein said shafts set up the vote controlled by division 'A of collector 6. Circuit established at contactor 202 operates magnet d of 8a, 8b and 8c, centering and locking shaft III of 8a, corresponding shaft of 8b, and corresponding shaft of 80 with the division A totals. Circuit established at contactor 203 operates solenoid I91 of 8a, corresponding solenoid of 8b, and corresponding solenoid of 80; causing shaft "I of 8a,

corresponding shaft of 8b, and corresponding shaft of 80, to advance for the second registering movement, wherein said shafts add the collector division B votes to those already set up. Circuit established at contactor 204 operates magnet d of 8d, 8b and 8c, centering and locking shaft III of 8a, corresponding shaft of 8b, and corresponding shaft of 80, with division A and B totals. Circuit established at contactor 205 operates solenoid I99 of 8a, corresponding solenoid of 8b, and corresponding solenoid of 80; causing shaft III of 8a, corresponding shaft of 8b, and corresponding shaft of 80, to advance for the third registering movement, wherein said shafts add the collector division C votes to those already set up. Circuitestablished at contactor 64 operates magnets d of 8a, b and 8c, centering and locking shaft "I of 841, corresponding shaft of 8b, and corresponding shaft of 80, with division A, B and C totals. Meanwhile, when speaker started vote by operating handle 4, which among other things closed switch L, currentfrom positive battery passed through switch blade 56, contactor 'I, conductor 58, to contactor 60 of section F of collector 6, and as wiper 66 was resting thereon, .current proceeded through conductor 68 to light all projection lamps, e of 80., e of 8b and e of 80, which displayed a zero total, in each case, because at that time magnet d'of 8a locked shaft I'll in the zero-registering position in which its stop arm I16 was abutting stop pin Ill, and magnet d of 0b and magnet d of 8c likewise performed the same function. When the collector was placed in operation and all wipers thereof commenced their anti-clockwise rotation, votes in its division A were stored by votometer storage magnets ac, votes in its division B were stored by votometer storage magnets bb, and votes in its division C were stored by votometer storage magnets cc. Approximately during the period in which the votes were being stored, wiper 63,-riding on contactor 64, held all registering shafts locked at zero; and wiper 66, riding on contactor 60 held all projection lamps burning. When wiper 66 ran off contactor 60 all projection lamps would be extinguished, and at this same time wiper 63 ran off contactor 64, releasing any old totals that shaft Ill of 8a, or corresponding shaft of 8b, or corresponding shaft of 8:; might have been holding, and doing so in darkness. has caused the new totals .to be set up by shaft I'II of 8a, and corresponding shaft of 8b, and corresponding shaft of 8c; and at the same time said new totals are lockedin position by wiper 63 contacting contactor 64, the projection lamps e are again lighted by wiper 66 contacting contactor 60. With continuous registration these totals remain in position and projection lamps e remain lighted until wipers 63 and 66 again leave contactors 64 and 60; but when only a single record is made, thatis: without continuous registration, then the totals remain set up, and the votometer lamps e remain burning, only until votometer switch L is released by the rising dashpot plunger In summary: For routine voting, when the presence or absence of a quorum, or the passage or defeat of a bill, is practically assured before the vote is taken, and the vote hardly more than After wiper 63 a formality, the speaker would throw handle 4 to for voting purposes instead of signalling purposes,

and since switch L would be closed by movement of handle 4, gong J would ring, and votometer lamps e would light and register zero totals. On special occasions when it was doubtful whether a quorum was present, or whether sufficient members were present to properly decidethe fate of a measure, the speaker would open the voting units by throwing his handle 4 to the left, which action would, in addition to performing the functions just stated, also start the collector 6 wipers to revolve continuously, thus causing votometer 8 to register successive totals as the members indicated their presence by operating the voting units. In either case the speaker could look the voting units such as I, 2, 3, etc., against further operation; and arrest continuous registration if that feature were operating'by stopping the collector 6; and render operative the clerk's switch 5, by simply moving handle of his switch 4 back to its neutral position. If, at this period, the speaker was still doubtful if he had sufficient votes locked in the machine, he could, by pressing pushbutton switch N, operate the collector and votometer for one cycle, and thereupon announce the results if sufficient votes were pres ent, and then order the clerk to make the record; and if the speaker th'ereby found suflicient votes were not present, he could operate his switch 4 again for further voting. When ordered to by the speaker, the clerk would record the vote by moving handle of his switch 5 to the right after placing a record card in the recorder. This action would close switch K connecting the recorder with the system, and start the collector. The collector in turn, would cause the record card to be fed through the recorder I in a step by step manner, perforating a line of holes, or recording a line of characters, between each feed movement; and the collector would at the same time cause the votometer to display the final totals. The clerk could then reset all mechanism manually by moving the handle of his switch 5 to left, or if he had switch 0 closed, the collector would automatically reset the equipment, but in either case the resetting impulse would immediately reset all voting units and permit them to be used as signalling devices, and disconnect recorder I from the system, and close time delay relay M. The votometer lamps e and other votometer total displaying mechanism,

would not be released however, until dashpot plunger I50 finished rising and opened switch L. Under the old form of oral roll call the speaker and members could make their private record of the vote as the clerk called the names, and were therefore in position to receive or make appropriate motions before the results were announced.

The inability of earlier voting systems to preserve this right and privilege, has been one reason such systems have not found a ready market. This right and privilege has been preserved in the system herein disclosed.

It will also be noted that the recorder I of this system is :ideally adapted to the use of a roll of tape, if that form of recording be preferred to the use of individual record cards, and is the first vote recorder adapted to the use of a roll of tape that would simultaneously record, a plurality of votes. It will also be noted that this system is the first that can be installed in sections-due to separation of the collector or commutator from other devices. For instance the original installation might consist of only the voting units and votometer, with its collector drive. Later, if visual indication and permanent records were desired, the indicator board and recorder could be added.

The votometer herein described is capable of displaying its totals in a great variety of fashions. The three similar views on Fig. 1C are used to illustrate several of the most desirable methods. In 8a a sprocket wheel 2H] is pinned to shaft III, and feeds film 2, bearing consecutive vote numbers, in front of lens H2 and mirror 2I3. In 8b a pinion 2 on shaft III drives gear 2I5 journaled at 2I6, and a transparent number bearing disc 2 I1, attached to gear 2I5, is thus rotated in front of condensing lens.

In 80 a similar gear drive is usedto rotate drum 2 I8. Number bearing flange or ring-2I9 may be translucent and illuminated, or transparent for projecting totals, or solid with numbers impressed 1 thereon, or solid with raised numbers, as at 220, for printing totals on a card 22I, as soon as registration has become completed, by the clerk manually closing, or the collector 6 automatically closing, the contacts 222, which will cause solenoids 223 to become energized by battery 224, thereby moving plunger 225, and causing striker arm 226 to press paper card 22I against the raised number 220. Permanent record is made from ink provided by a suitable ribbon or roller. For projecting totals suitable projection lenses would be used.

In Fig. 2 I. have shown a side view of the reg istering mechanism shown at 8a in Fig. 1C taken adjacent the right side of nut I15.

The relationship of the parts already designated in Fig. 10 will be clear by following similar reference character designations applied in both Fig. 1C and Fig. 2.

The schematic arrangement of 'the system of my invention has been shown more clearly in Fig. 3 in which the several parts of the system heretofore explained are shown in their relative positions. I'have illustrated by voting units I, 2 and 3 mounted on the members desks and connected through the switchboard SB with the page-call P, the collector 5, the indicator board IB, the votometer 8, and the recorder I. I have illustrated the clerks desk on which the recorder I may be mounted, and in a convenient position thereto, the clerk's switch 5 and the automatic resetting control switch 0. I have also shown the speakers desk on which there is mounted the speaker's switch 4 and the push-button switch N which permits the total to be secured with the voting units I, 2, and 3, etc., locked and the recorder I disconnected.

While I have described my invention in one of its preferred embodiments, I realize that modifications may be made, and no limitations upon my invention are intended other than may be imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

means, a commutator device for each plurality of said voting means having a series of contacts individually connected with each of said means in the respective plurality, vote totaling and registering means having energy storage devices individual to each said commutator device and simultaneously operable by energy impulses delivered therefrom, electromechanical releasing means cooperative with each of said storage devices, and separate commutator means having a series ofcontacts connected with said releasing means for controlling the release of quantities of stored impulses successively from said storage devices, said totaling and registering means including a single numerical device mechanically engageable with and actuated successively by said storage devices upon the operation of said releasing means.

2. In a voting system, a multiplicity of voting means divided into separate pluralities, a source of energy connected with each of said voting means, a commutator device for each plurality of said voting means having a series of contacts individually connected with each of said means in the respective plurality, vote totaling means comprising energy storage devices individual to each said commutator device and simultaneously operable by energy impulses'delivered therefrom for storing the energy impulses in the respective pluralities, electromechanical releasing means 00-. operative with each of said storage devices, separate commutator means having a series of contacts connected with said releasing means for controlling the release of stored impulses successively from said storage devices, and registering means mechanically engageable with and actuated successively by said storage devices upon the operation of said releasing means for registering additively in votes the total of energy impulses delivered from each storage device.

3. In a voting system as set forth in claim 2, electromechanical holding means engaged with said registering means intermediate the actuation of said registering means by said storage devices, said separate commutator means having contacts, intermediate 'thesaid series of contacts thereon, connected with said holding means for controlling the operation thereof in timed relation to the operation of said releasing means.

4. In a voting system as set forth in claim 2, total displaying means cooperative with said registering means, and additional commutator means connected with said displaying means for" controlling the operation of said displaying means to display the full total of votes on said registering means, said displaying means being maintained inoperative for the successive totals from the separate storage devices and during the periods of actuation of said registering means.

5. In a voting system including a register having total display means and a reset control device, a control system for restoring said register to normal condition comprising a switch in series with said display means and said reset control device; means'for opening said switch including an electromagnet, contacts in circuit with said electromagnet, and retarded electromagnetic means for operating said contacts; and means for energizing the last said means at the conclusion of theoperation of said voting system, said retarded electromagnetic means permittingcontinued operation of said register for displaying totals for a predetermined subsequent period before the opening of said switch and restoration of said, register to normal condition by deenergization of said display means and said reset control device.

6. In a roll call system, a plurality of voting positions by said individual means, and separate means connected through said control means for releasing said devices from voting positions when said control means is restored to normal position with said devices retained in voting positions.

7. In a roll call system, a plurality of voting devices, commutator means connected with said devices for controlling the totalization of votes cast through said devices. motor means ior driving said commutator means, means controlled by said commutator means for operating said motor means, individual means for locking each of said voting devices in voting position, means for releasing said devices from voting positions, and auxiliary commutator means driven by said motor means for automatically controlling said releasing means to restore the system to normal condition.

8. In a roll call system as set forth in claim 6, a'register, commutator means for controlling the operation of said register from said voting devices, motor means for driving said commutator means, switch means in circuit with said motor means for controlling said motor means, and manually actuated means in circuit with said releasing means for operating said releasing means I at the termination of the operation of said commutator means for restoring the system to nor- .mal condition.

9. In a voting system, a plurality of voting means, a source of energy connected with each of said voting means, a register including energy storage means and vote registering means, a com-. mutator for controlling the operation of said energy storage means fromsaid source of energy through said voting means, and means synchronized with said commutator and cyclically operable for controlling the operation of said energy storage means with respect to said vote registering means for showing various total indications relative to a given subject, a previous total indication being shown during periods in which additional, energy is stored, and stored energy being registered in votes during intermediate periods,

whereby said various totals are obtained.

- 10. In a voting system including voting means for conditioning a circuit, locking means for said voting means, indicating means, and vote totalling and registering means: manual control means operable in one of two actuated positions for controlling the unlocking of the voting means for operation with; respect to said indicating means, and in the other actuated position for controlling the operation of said vote totalling and registering means and for controlling the unlocking of the voting means for also closing the circuit to said vote totalling and registering means, and means for individually manually actuating said voting means.

CHARLES F. THOMPSON. 

